'Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you"' -Genesis 12:1
When God called Abraham, He did not tell him where he was going, when he would get there, or what he would be doing. He simply said "Go. Follow where I lead, walk in faith, and I will show you when you get there." And for this God promised him blessing, and that through Abraham the nations would be blessed.
God has been shaping my life in much the same way. The story of Abraham has spoken to me often these past few years. Like Abraham, God has said to me "Go, leave your comfort zone and everything familiar, walk in faith one step at a time, and I will show you when you get there." In this season now, He is leading me to South Africa.
It has been an interesting journey that led me to this point. It was certainly unexpected! In my life and heart there have been dreams and desires which have remained constant, growing and shaping over time. Above all have been my desires for family and to serve in ministry. God has placed in me a burden for the poor and a heart for broken women, a gift of hospitality and a desire to serve. But as usual, God's timing and plans in bringing things about were not mine.
I found myself in what seemed a season of waiting; changes in jobs that took me no closer to my "purpose", being asked to surrender my hearts desires, moving away from certain circles and pursuits but not moving forward in anything else. It was very discouraging, until I realized that no season is without purpose, no time is more or less important to God. He calls us to a life of active obedience and service in all circumstances. I was not going to waste another minute.
I began seeking God in how He would have me invest this time. As a family was not a part of His present plan I looked into methods of greater training and experience for ministry. Little did I know the turn that would take! Through prayer and counsel with family, pastors and friends, my attention was directed to All Nations in South Africa.
A missions organizations run by Floyd and Sally McClung, with whom my church has worked closely, they run a missions training program called the Church Planting Experience (CPx). After much prayer and counsel I applied-and was accepted!! So this February I will be moving to Cape Town, South Africa. For the first three months I will be involved in classes exploring faith, ministry and evangelism, and church planting, while actively ministering in surrounding townships. The following months I will go with a team to take part in a church plant. During this time I will be prayerfully considdering staying for a long term internship with All Nations through next December.
I am excited by this opportunity which God has provided. I have no "plan" for the future, simply to follow where He leads. For the present He is leading me to South Africa. I look forward with great anticipation to what He will bring about there, and where He will lead me after-whether to stay, return, or go elsewhere! But I have never had greater peace than I do now, knowing that as I have no plan of my own, whatever takes place will be His!
When God called Abraham, He did not tell him where he was going, when he would get there, or what he would be doing. He simply said "Go. Follow where I lead, walk in faith, and I will show you when you get there." And for this God promised him blessing, and that through Abraham the nations would be blessed.
God has been shaping my life in much the same way. The story of Abraham has spoken to me often these past few years. Like Abraham, God has said to me "Go, leave your comfort zone and everything familiar, walk in faith one step at a time, and I will show you when you get there." In this season now, He is leading me to South Africa.
It has been an interesting journey that led me to this point. It was certainly unexpected! In my life and heart there have been dreams and desires which have remained constant, growing and shaping over time. Above all have been my desires for family and to serve in ministry. God has placed in me a burden for the poor and a heart for broken women, a gift of hospitality and a desire to serve. But as usual, God's timing and plans in bringing things about were not mine.
I found myself in what seemed a season of waiting; changes in jobs that took me no closer to my "purpose", being asked to surrender my hearts desires, moving away from certain circles and pursuits but not moving forward in anything else. It was very discouraging, until I realized that no season is without purpose, no time is more or less important to God. He calls us to a life of active obedience and service in all circumstances. I was not going to waste another minute.
I began seeking God in how He would have me invest this time. As a family was not a part of His present plan I looked into methods of greater training and experience for ministry. Little did I know the turn that would take! Through prayer and counsel with family, pastors and friends, my attention was directed to All Nations in South Africa.
A missions organizations run by Floyd and Sally McClung, with whom my church has worked closely, they run a missions training program called the Church Planting Experience (CPx). After much prayer and counsel I applied-and was accepted!! So this February I will be moving to Cape Town, South Africa. For the first three months I will be involved in classes exploring faith, ministry and evangelism, and church planting, while actively ministering in surrounding townships. The following months I will go with a team to take part in a church plant. During this time I will be prayerfully considdering staying for a long term internship with All Nations through next December.
I am excited by this opportunity which God has provided. I have no "plan" for the future, simply to follow where He leads. For the present He is leading me to South Africa. I look forward with great anticipation to what He will bring about there, and where He will lead me after-whether to stay, return, or go elsewhere! But I have never had greater peace than I do now, knowing that as I have no plan of my own, whatever takes place will be His!
